Ohara Ski Area Closed
Official name 大原スキー場 · Formerly 関越国際大原スキー場
Niigata
Open 1972–2019
Ohara was a ski area at the foot of Mt. Sumon in Oshirakawa, in the former Irihirose Village, now part of Uonuma City, Niigata. It opened in 1972 as Kanetsu Kokusai Ohara and had two pair lifts and five runs. Deep snow gave it a long season, and it was used by groups such as the Niigata City ski association, with a shuttle from Oshirakawa Station on the Tadami Line. Fewer skiers and thinner snow hurt its finances; a committee of local residents and user groups ran it for the 2018-19 season, but it was abolished after that winter. The lifts were left standing.
History of Ohara Ski Area
- Opened
- 1972
- Closed
- 2019
- Formerly
- 関越国際大原スキー場
- Operators
- Uonuma City (city ski area), Operating committee of Oshirakawa residents and volunteers from user groups (2018-19 season)
- Why it closed
- Falling skier numbers and less snow worsened the finances; a local committee could not turn it around in 2018-19.
- The site today
- Lifts left in place (as of 2020).